Did you know that the ninja only rarely wore black outfits, if ever. It seems more legendary than actual, as they always tried to blend in wherever they were, usually impersonating a samurai, merchant or farmer.
When on assignments, they usually wore blue, brown or white, whatever seemed to match the environment they were in – they were very aware of what we today call camouflage. Also, they carried a variety of weapons, including:
- Katana, a real samurai sword, if they had one.
- Kusarigama, a kama, or corn knife, with a chain attached that ended with a heavy weight.
- Shuriken, or throwing stars, used very effectively to cut the hands of approaching attackers, forcing them to drop their weapons.
- Shuko, or ninja claws, were not used as weapons, but for climbing difficult surfaces.
They carried with them many other tools to successfully complete their missions of intrigue, espionage and assassination. Ninja became legendary heroes or villains, depending on which side you were on, and which one they were on.